Wadea Al-Fayoume, 6-year-old child from Plainfield, IL, who tragically lost his life due to a hate crime, will be given a Muslim burial on Monday.

Joseph Czuba stabbed Wadea Al-Fayoume and his mother in unincorporated Plainfield Saturday morning because they are Muslim, the Will County Sheriff’s Office said on Sunday.

Late Sunday, the Chicago FBI Field Office, the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois said they have opened a federal investigation into the killing.

A recent photo of Al-Fayoume showed him celebrating his birthday only just a couple of weeks ago. He was stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife, officials said. His mother sustained 12 stab wounds and is currently hospitalized.

The child and his mother have been leasing the first floor for the last couple of years, without encountering any problems until the weekend, and Czuba even helped build a tree house for the young boy previously and brought him toys.

According to Ahmed Rehab, president of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Chicago, the tragic killing of a young Palestinian child can be attributed to the negative environment that portrays Palestinians as subhuman.

Czuba, who is 71 years old, is facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and two counts of committing a hate crime.

The father of the boy was too overwhelmed to say anything, but on Sunday, he was accompanied by Muslim leaders from his community who assert that this purported act of hatred represents the greatest apprehension for every Palestinian American amidst the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Rehab stated that he was an affectionate young boy who held deep affection for his family and friends. He loved and had a strong passion for both soccer and basketball, but unfortunately, he had to endure the consequences of living in a hostile environment filled with animosity.

The family stated that the mother of the boy, who is 32 years old, migrated from the West Bank to the United States 12 years ago, with the intention of escaping the ongoing violence that persists in her home country.

The Will County Sheriff’s Office, in its statement regarding the charges, described the offense as “senseless” and “cowardly.” According to the detectives’ investigation, it was determined that the suspect deliberately targeted both victims because of their Muslim identity and the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel in the Middle East.

Although the specific reasons were not disclosed by the investigators, the president of the Council on Arab American Relations in Chicago, together with the father of the slain boy, shared details of text messages received from the ex-wife who sent the messages from the hospital, where she is currently recuperating from multiple stab wounds.

“He knocked on the door and that he attempted to choke her, and said, ‘you Muslims must die,’ and attempted to stab her, and stabbed her. And, she went to the bathroom and called 911. And, this was all in her own words.” Rehab stated.

The mother, who is 32 years old, is currently in a critical condition, but she is anticipated to recover, as per the information provided by the sheriff’s office.

According to investigators, Czuba has refrained from giving a statement to the authorities. However, they are confident that they possess sufficient tangible evidence and witness testimonies to substantiate the charges pressed against him.

Czuba will be held at the Adult Detention facility in Will County until his first court appearance which will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, at the Will County Courthouse in Joliet.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed deep sorrow over the tragic killing of six-year-old child Wadea Al-Fayoume, who was brutally stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife. The Department of Justice has initiated a federal hate crimes investigation into the circumstances surrounding this devastating incident, which also resulted in serious injuries to the child’s mother, Hanaan Shahin. Due to the ongoing criminal investigation, the Department is unable to provide further details at this time. Nonetheless, this incident has heightened the concerns of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in the United States regarding hate-motivated violence.

I am heartbroken by the abhorrent killing of Wadea Al-Fayoume, a six year old child who died after being stabbed 26 times with a military-style knife. On behalf of the entire Justice Department, I want to express my deepest condolences to his family and his community as they grieve his loss.

This incident cannot help but further raise the fears of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in our country with regard to hate-fueled violence. The Department of Justice is focused on protecting the safety and the civil rights of every person in this country. We will use every legal authority at our disposal to bring to justice those who perpetrate illegal acts of hate. No one in the United States of America should have to live in fear of violence because of how they worship or where they or their family come from.

Statement from U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed deep sorrow over the killing and attempted murder on his mother’s in Plainfield, Illinois. He denounced this hate crime rooted in Islamophobia, emphasizing its harmful impact on society. Mayor Johnson stood in solidarity with the bereaved family and the Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian communities in Illinois, acknowledging the profound loss they have suffered. Furthermore, he extended prayers for the mother’s recovery and emphasized the need for lasting peace both for Wadea’s departed soul and in our world.